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India And Pakistan Trade Accusations Over Kashmir
NEW DELHI, Feb 20 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - India and Pakistan were Tuesday locked in a war of words over Kashmir, as a divided Indian cabinet debated over whether to extend its unilateral ceasefire in the region.
New Delhi's supposed suspension of combat operations in the Indian-controlled sector of Kashmir expires on February 26th, and a special security cabinet is to meet in the next few days to decide whether the truce should be renewed.
But reports say he faces opposition from the home ministry and intelligence services which have been alarmed by a series of spectacular Kashmiri attacks and believe the truce is giving the opposition an opportunity to re-group.
Most pro-Pakistan Islamic groups in Indian-administered Kashmir state that the Indian ceasefire was, since the beginning, a farce, and that Indian troops during the period continued an escalation in violence directed at its majority Muslim population.
They rejected the Indian truce, calling it a public relations ploy to garner international moral credentials while on the ground India did not end military operations.
Premier Atal Behari Vajpayee, with the backing of the military, is reported to be pushing for an extension to keep the fragile peace process in the disputed region alive.
Ahead of the crucial meeting, Indian President K.R. Narayanan on Monday issued a stinging attack on Pakistan, which he accused of undermining the ceasefire and doing nothing to rein in Pakistan-based fighters.
Pakistan, which controls the northern third of Kashmir, replied that India had kept up a "campaign of terror and repression" throughout its ceasefire and it pointed to widespread protests against Indian rule.
India also said late Monday its forces had opened fire on two Pakistani planes over Indian-held Kashmir, an allegation immediately dismissed as false by Pakistan.
Indian-controlled Kashmir has been rocked by some of the largest civil unrest in eight years after Indian troops opened fire on a crowd of mourners on February 15th in the town of Haigam, killing four people.
For five days stone-throwing Muslim youths have fought pitched battles with the security forces around the capital Srinagar, while crowds of up to 25,000 have taken to the streets to mourn the dead.
The Indian military issued an unprecedented apology for the shooting and promised a full inquiry.
The situation in Indian Kashmir was largely calm all day Tuesday as police lifted a five-day curfew and released detained leaders from the All Party Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference (APHC), an alliance of Kashmiri groups.
The APHC, which has accused India over only paying lip service to the ceasefire, in turn called off a region-wide strike.
An editorial Tuesday in The Times of India said it was vital the government renew the ceasefire following last week's shooting of civilians by the military. But it warned the truce alone was not enough.
The paper said troops found guilty of misconduct must be punished, minimum force should be used against demonstrators to win hearts and minds, and a lasting peace plan should be worked out.
"The Center [government] must quickly decide on allowing APHC leaders to travel to Pakistan to hold talks with the militant leaders there. The need of the hour is a comprehensive peace package, not peace delivered piecemeal."
APHC leaders have repeatedly complained that despite receiving verbal permission from India to go to Pakistan in mid-January, they have yet to receive the necessary travel documents.
New Delhi accuses Islamabad of backing Musllim fighters in Kashmir in a conflict, which it says has claimed 34,000 lives in the past 12 years.
Pakistan denies it backs the fighters, saying it only gives diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmiris' legitimate struggle for self-determination.
India first declared a one-month truce on November 27th and has twice renewed the measure.
Pakistan responded by offering "maximum restraint" along the Line of Control, effectively the border dividing Kashmir, and by announcing a partial withdrawal of troops.
Pakistan's military rulers also announced a clampdown on Islamic groups carrying arms in public and raising funds for jihad (holy struggle).
Four little known groups based in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir said Monday they had been asked to close their offices, but this has not been confirmed by the authorities.
Pakistan's interior ministry also said Tuesday it would take a closer look at the funds raised by groups in the name of Kashmiri refugees.
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